Chapter 23: At that very moment, a door opened before him

Lila really was a terrible person.

‘But…’

Simon shook his head, rejecting that thought halfway through. No matter how one tried to justify it, what Lila had done was like a plank pierced by nails, pull them out, and the holes still remain.

If it weren’t for the shopkeeper’s unconditional help, Simon might have died from the pain long ago.

So he told Yuli everything Lila had done, without hiding a single detail.

What he saw in the end was Yuli deep in thought.

After parting with Yuli and Hughes, who for some reason seemed unusually pensive, Simon didn’t return to the dorm immediately. Instead, he went around asking others about Alice and the rest.

Fortunately, all three were unharmed. They had successfully escaped.

Siegfried stood among them, animatedly recounting how difficult and dangerous it had been to protect Vigus, boasting about his courage and wit.

Meanwhile, Vigus looked visibly annoyed, interrupting his rambling and correcting the story with what had actually happened.

Simon could only smile helplessly to himself. After all, he had faced the greatest danger—but he chose not to tell them, so they wouldn’t worry.

At least the result now was that all four of them were safe.

But Alice looked uneasy.

“Alice, what’s wrong?”

Simon noticed her distracted expression and asked.

“Ah!”

She startled, as if snapping back to reality.

She stared at Simon blankly, her sapphire-blue eyes shimmering with moisture, a trace of unease lingering within.

“I’m sorry, Simon!”

She bowed slightly, her voice filled with guilt.

The sudden apology caught Simon off guard.

“Why are you apologizing, Alice?”

“I’m just… so glad you’re okay!”

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Simon, I heard… I heard you calling for help. I’m sorry, I didn’t come to help you. I was too scared… I thought you wouldn’t make it back. If something had happened to you, I would’ve hated myself forever…”

She spoke in a trembling, tearful voice, her words tumbling over each other.

Simon listened quietly. He felt surprise, but not anger, not a sense of betrayal.

He understood. In that situation, even if Alice had come, it wouldn’t have changed anything. She might have just put herself in danger.

So he spoke gently:

“Alice, honestly, whether you came or not wouldn’t have changed anything. We weren’t strong enough to beat that monster.”

“And look. I came back just fine. Nothing tragic happened, so try to smile.”

He smiled.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you insulting me again?”

Alice wiped her tears, her usual sharpness returning.

“Well, since you’re stronger than me, a little teasing should be fine, right?”

Simon joked.

“…Thank you.”

Alice said softly after a pause.

The brief emotional moment faded like a breeze.

The sunset arrived, flames of gold stretching endlessly across the sky.

The academy decided to immediately end the exercise. Simon stood once again on the teleportation array, light particles swirling like lively spirits. He braced himself for the familiar dizziness.

He blinked.

And the world changed.

The flowing light turned into boundless darkness. Before him stood a moss-covered stone bridge stretching into the unknown.

Mist obscured the path ahead.

Simon didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward.

‘What…?’

Suddenly, something wrapped around his leg.

He looked down.

A black tentacle.

In an instant, a massive force yanked him off the bridge. He grabbed at the edge instinctively, but it was useless.

He fell.

Endlessly.

Then…

A splash.

The sea again.

A black, lifeless ocean. The same dark, directionless abyss from his dreams.

‘Why am I here?’

Simon reached out blindly into the darkness. No monsters this time, just endless silence.

“Hey, you alright?”

‘…That voice…’

His own?

He turned, and saw a figure upside down in the water, crimson eyes staring back at him.

Startled, Simon stepped back.

The figure slowly turned upright. Black hair drifted in the water, revealing a face identical to his, except for the red eyes.

“Who are you?”

Simon kept his distance, wary.

“I’m you, Simon.”

The figure smiled, almost madly.

“This is what you truly are. You just refuse to accept the power that belongs to you.”

“…Dark magic?”

The figure shook his head.

The next moment, he appeared right in front of Simon.

“I am you. You can’t deny me.”

“I know your joy, your happiness. I also know your hatred after every pain… your anger, your loneliness in those black dreams. I am you. I know everything.”

“…Want a drink?”

Two glasses appeared in his hand.

Simon didn’t refuse. If the figure wanted to kill him, he could have done it already.

He took a sip.

And immediately coughed.

‘Strong.’

“Gotta learn to drink stronger stuff,” the figure laughed, then grimaced as he drank his own.

‘…You’re not doing any better.’

Simon thought.

“What should I call you?”

“I told you, I’m you. But if you need a distinction… you can be the older brother.”

“…Me?”

“Yep. Accept my power, brother. It’s yours anyway.”

His expression was almost devoted.

“…No thanks. I don’t remember having a younger brother.”

“This isn’t about blood. It’s about something deeper.”

The “brother” tossed aside his glass and conjured beer instead.

A campfire flickered to life between them, illuminating the deep sea.

Simon’s glass refilled. The alcohol was milder now.

“Because I’m you, I understand your hatred toward your own weakness. You chase safety like a child… hoping for salvation. You need this power, but you refuse it.”

Simon fell silent.

His thoughts drifted.

To the grassy slope west of the academy.

To the cornflowers scattered like stars across green fields.

After exhausting days, after pain, humiliation, or emptiness, he would go there. To the rooftop at the edge of the campus.

And watch.

The quiet “green sky.”

People passing. Dogs chasing frisbees. Cows grazing.

Waiting for the sun to sink into the horizon.

He never knew why, but it calmed him.

Maybe because those flowers bloomed for no one.

And yet, they bloomed.

“…So, what will you choose, brother?”

Simon took a long drink.

“I’m still thinking.”

It felt like… something dangerous. Something he wasn’t ready for.

“Alright,” the figure sighed. “I won’t force you.”

“But I’ll always be with you.”

“If you want… we can burn this whole world together.”

…That’s a bit much.

Simon didn’t know how to react.

“How do I leave?”

A worn wooden door appeared.

Of course it did.

He pushed it open.

“See you.”

The “brother” said.

Then…

A shove from behind.

Simon fell again.

This time…

Into an endless abyss.

With a jolt, he opened his eyes.

The academy’s massive spherical library stood before him.

He was back.